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BMC to focus on roadside vendors to check plastic ban in Mumbai

There has been complaints from shops that they are fined for using plastic bags while roadside hawkers are frequently selling items in plastic bags.

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BMC’s Blue Squad
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After a brief pause during Diwali, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will intensify its action against banned plastic across the city. Now, the blue squad will concentrate in areas where footfall is more and on roadside hawkers who are frequently using banned carry bags.

There has been complaints from shops that they are fined for using plastic bags while roadside hawkers are frequently selling items in plastic bags. Even during the festival, plastic was frequently used by flower shops and fruit sellers.

"We have received complaints that roadside hawkers mostly selling vegetables, flowers and fruits are giving plastic bags. The blue squad will now concentrate on hawkers also," said a senior civic official, looking into the plastic ban. However, he added that the drive in big shops and establishments will continue.

The BMC has already seized more than seven times of banned plastic in just four months as against it had seized in the last four and half years. The record seizure was executed by the blue squad formed after state government banned single-use plastic across the state on June 23.

The blue squad of BMC visited around 3.02 lakh shops since the ban came into affect, and seized around 30,024 kg banned plastic.

As per the data available with the Market department of BMC, since 2014 to till June 22, 2018, they had seized 5262 kg of banned plastic. "We have seized more than seven times banned plastic in just four months which shows the intensity of implementation of plastic ban in the city,"said the official.

The BMC had also initiated prosecution against 288 shops owners who refused to pay fine for possessing banned plastic before Metropolitan magistrate. Now, amount of fine will be decided by the court. As per the state government notification, first time violator will be fined Rs 5,000. Subsequently, second and third time violators will be fined Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. There is also provision of jail for repeat offender.

The BMC squad consisting of 300 officials from Market, License and Shop and Establishments visited shops and fined penalty where the violation was found. Each shops found with banned plastic were fined Rs 5,000 and the civic body filed investigation report for prosecuting them.

Till August 31, investigation report has been filed against 249 shop owners before court and they will be prosecuted. The BMC also collected Rs 1,37,30,000 as fine from 2,746 violators since June 23.

WHY THE MOVE

Complaints have been registered with the BMC by shopkeepers saying that they are fined for using plastic bags while roadside vendors are frequently selling items in plastic bags 

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